Strategic Studies Quarterly

Abstract Separation of Crimea from Ukraine has renewed old questions about political or legal nature of self-determination.   This article, focusing on different issues on self-determination, discusses changes in domestic aspect of it and its ambiguities. Author, from an international law approach, tries to answer this question: is self-determination based on political practices or follows legal rules? In response, he argues that because of the lack of unity and dispersion in states behaviors, there is a not still customary international law rule to explain and describe all situations of self-determination. So, in most conditions, political claims are not separable from legal demands, and recognition as the most component of bestowing this right of self-determination is still confined to political will of states and doesn’t follow clear legal standards

Abstract   Social policy facilitates creation of stable and even political system, which brings security about as an inevitable outcome, through provision of public needs and making a justice-based life for citizens. This article inspired by Copenhagen security school and Boland and likers views on societal aspects of social policy; discuss the relation between national security and social policy. The hypothesis of author is that: social policy has positive impact on achieving sustainable national security, through promoting life quality, provision of social rights of citizens, fulfillment of equality, freedom, justice, equity, creation of inclusive government, fulfillment of good governance, elimination of structural inequalities , promotion of social capital and creation of strong national identity.  

Abstract Strategic Studies in Iran has developed interacting with the socio-political developments at the national, regional and international levels, and changes in the factors have affected the formation and nature of the data. Given the knowledge-power relationship, the author argues that as a result of transforming the Pahlavi regime to the Islamic Republic at the national level, changing the Western Regional order to the nonwestern, and transformation of the international system from the Cold War to the post-Cold War era, has increased the possibility of formation and development of an indigenous Strategic Studies based on the Islamic-Iranian teachings than the past. In fact, studying the formation and evolution of Strategic Studies in Iran based on a Constructivist approach, the author is intended to show how, through the transformation of internal, regional and international relations of power, the ontological foundations of Strategic Studies in Iran and consequently, the epistemological and methodological foundations of the study has converted in a way to provide an indigenous approach on the field based on the Islamic-Iranian elements

Abstract Containing I.R. Iran’s missile capabilities is an immediate goal in U.S.A missile defense approach in Obama administration. Iran’s access to missile and satellite technology (manufacturing and launching) is deemed as a threat for U.S.A and southern neighbors of Persian Gulf, so the mission of missile defense shield is to contain and counter Iran’s capabilities in missile and satellite fields. This article  based on offensive and defensive realism , analyses security challenges emerging from extension of missile defense shield for I.R. Iran  and regarding emergency of this threats for Iran, proposes to intensify interactions and defense diplomacy with southern neighbors based on self-restraint and moderation to strengthen Iran’s national security.  

Abstract IR theories focus on mechanism of state socialization to explain effects of nature and structure of international relations. Using this metaphor, they describe how structure and nature of international system changes or shapes state actions. This article discuss socialization of states from rationalist and constructivist approaches, answering these questions: What is the concept of socialization in each approach? And what strategies do they propose for socialization of states? Authors claim that because of the differences in ontology and epistemology between two approaches, there is a basic difference on their description about nature and strategies of socialization.  

Abstract This article tries to discuss this question: What is the nature of alliances and coalition in Middle East as one of the important and strategic and more conflicting regions of the world? Could we speak about the nature of alliances in Middle East as a constitution of a collective identity based on constitutive and regulatory norms like western alliances? Could we consider that identity has a low effect on alliances and instead balance of power and threat have the main role in making of Mideast alliances? Authors, as their hypothesis, contrary to Barnett view which claims the nature of alliances in Mideast is based on identity similarities, argue that alliances in Mideast is dependent on state interests and emerge from regional balance of power and as a tool to counter threats.  

Abstract Strategic culture affects statesmen, elite attitudes and even the whole public perception and has the capacity to determine behaviors and actions of them in different areas. So knowing the constituting elements of state identity, among them the strategic culture, has a good role in understanding state actions, especially great powers like china and U.S.A. This article tries to distinguish constitutive components of strategic culture of U.S. and china and claim that U.S culture is offensive and Chinese one has defensive character. Authors try to compare tow cases and describe similarities and differences of them; at last they explain these cultures impacts on U.S. and china Middle East policy.